Parity violation I: Then and Now

This contribution, together with the following one by E. J. Beise, will cover the topic of experiments using polarized electrons to study the parity-violating electroweak interference effects. The role of Bates in the evolution of the field is emphasized. The initial motivation of these experimental efforts was tests of the Standard Model. Examples that I will describe include deep inelastic scattering from deuterium at SLAC and elastic scattering from 12C at Bates. Recently, the focus has shifted to the search for strange form factors in the elastic scattering from hydrogen. I will present recent results on the subject from the HAPPEX collaboration at JLab. Finally, future experiments that will measure very small asymmetries at SLAC and JLab are described